Interview: Jonathan Boulet

"I'm always a fan of the three man crowd surf."

Jonathan Boulet makes music so all-encompassing that it feels like you are swimming in it. His first album, the self-titled Jonathan Boulet, was recorded, produced and mixed in his parents' garage (is there a musician out there who didn't start out in a suburban garage?) when he was just 21. Now almost three years later, he's ready to release his second record, We Keep The Beat, Found The Sound, See The Need, Start The Heart. Along with the odd chanting choir, it also features about as many instruments as there are letters in that title, so get ready to swim.

We caught up with Jonathan ahead of his shows in Melbourne and at the Sydney Opera House later this week.

Jerico Mandybur:Your new album's called We Keep The Beat, Found The Sound, See The Need, Start The Heart; what's the story behind the name?

Jonathan Boulet: It was originally going to be double that length, but common sense somewhat prevailed. It was a lyric I had written a long time ago and somehow stuck around to see the light of day.

You're a Sydneysider who's played in other Sydney bands like Parades; can you give us a top five list of local acts we need to immediately check out?

1. Missy Higgins

2. Zoo (Indonesia)

3. D.D Dumbo (Melbourne)

4. Snakeface

5. Light Giant

What's your favourite memory of writing/recording the new album? Paint us a picture.

10-15 friends crammed in the garage, lined up side to side, struggling to hear the song out of a single pair of headphones, screaming out lyrics crudely scrawled onto a tiny white board in front of them.

Your gigs can be pretty joyous occassions, with lots of dancing from the crowd; what's your favourite dance move (from yourself or on others)?

I'm always a fan of the three man crowd surf, which is basically two mates holding up their other mate because no one else wants a bar of it.